Saturday's letters: PC leaders

Published: Saturday, June 7, 2014 at 4:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Friday, June 6, 2014 at 12:38 p.m.

To the editor: Regarding the noteworthy article last Sunday, “History lesson being investigated”: There simply has to be a bit more to the story than was reported!

Surely no young eighth-grader (only 13 or 14 years of age) should ever be informed that, once upon a time in the past, some entertainers actually did “black face” routines (does the name Al Jolson ring any bells with anyone?) for it might possibly offend or in some fashion blight their whole existence. And of course it must be racist since everything is to some people.

My heavens, to actually teach history accurately! Why, the whole idea simply boggles the minds of some of our PC leaders!

Robert Haught

Etowah

Life has changed

To the editor: In his recent column, headlined “Throwing away our older generation,” Ron Kauffman described how we should all be treating seniors: in the care of family as they live their sunset years. But that is neither practical nor realistic in today’s world.

He blames “programs such as Social Security and Medicare and new health insurance requiring free screenings and drug coverage” for the fact that families no longer care for their aging family members.

Wow, he has things backward! Life in America has changed. As a result, millions of seniors live alone, live much longer, and often live far from family. I suspect that most seniors bless these programs that allow them to live independently and so do their families, who may not have the resources and skills to care for them.

He says he works “in the world of aging and seniors.” What advice does he give? Does he urge seniors to give up Medicare, return their Social Security checks and move in with their children so they can pay for rent, utilities and cover the medical costs?

Since Mr. Kauffman so dislikes these programs, I have to assume he doesn’t use them. Right, Mr. Kauffman?

Rachel Poller

Hendersonville

Not a patriot

To the editor: Edward Snowden has been using the media to drum up sympathy from the American public, as with his recent interview on NBC. He apparently sees himself as a “patriot” who broke the law only as an act of “civil disobedience.” They seem intent on providing him a forum and describe him as extremely intelligent. Perhaps, but that does not trump gullibility, lack of insight, common sense and traitorous behavior.

Our national security structure is comprised of a complex mesh of many layers of many organizations, civilian and military. The damage Snowden may cause in lives lost now or in the future due to the structure of this system apparently eludes his “intelligence.” Maybe a quick survey of the list of countries that offered him asylum might offer him a clue as to what a great national hero he is.

He wants to return to the U.S., but “not to a jail cell.” I believe we should offer him exactly what Washington would have offered Benedict Arnold if he had been captured — 6 feet of rope and 10 feet of air.

<p>To the editor: Regarding the noteworthy article last Sunday, History lesson being investigated: There simply has to be a bit more to the story than was reported!</p><p>Surely no young eighth-grader (only 13 or 14 years of age) should ever be informed that, once upon a time in the past, some entertainers actually did black face routines (does the name Al Jolson ring any bells with anyone?) for it might possibly offend or in some fashion blight their whole existence. And of course it must be racist since everything is to some people.</p><p>My heavens, to actually teach history accurately! Why, the whole idea simply boggles the minds of some of our PC leaders!</p><p><em>Robert Haught</em></p><p><em>Etowah</em></p><h3>Life has changed</h3>
<p>To the editor: In his recent column, headlined Throwing away our older generation, Ron Kauffman described how we should all be treating seniors: in the care of family as they live their sunset years. But that is neither practical nor realistic in today’s world.</p><p>He blames programs such as Social Security and Medicare and new health insurance requiring free screenings and drug coverage for the fact that families no longer care for their aging family members.</p><p>Wow, he has things backward! Life in America has changed. As a result, millions of seniors live alone, live much longer, and often live far from family. I suspect that most seniors bless these programs that allow them to live independently and so do their families, who may not have the resources and skills to care for them.</p><p>He says he works in the world of aging and seniors. What advice does he give? Does he urge seniors to give up Medicare, return their Social Security checks and move in with their children so they can pay for rent, utilities and cover the medical costs?</p><p>Since Mr. Kauffman so dislikes these programs, I have to assume he doesn’t use them. Right, Mr. Kauffman?</p><p><em>Rachel Poller</em></p><p><em>Hendersonville</em></p><h3>Not a patriot</h3>
<p>To the editor: Edward Snowden has been using the media to drum up sympathy from the American public, as with his recent interview on NBC. He apparently sees himself as a patriot who broke the law only as an act of civil disobedience. They seem intent on providing him a forum and describe him as extremely intelligent. Perhaps, but that does not trump gullibility, lack of insight, common sense and traitorous behavior.</p><p>Our national security structure is comprised of a complex mesh of many layers of many organizations, civilian and military. The damage Snowden may cause in lives lost now or in the future due to the structure of this system apparently eludes his intelligence. Maybe a quick survey of the list of countries that offered him asylum might offer him a clue as to what a great national hero he is.</p><p>He wants to return to the U.S., but not to a jail cell. I believe we should offer him exactly what Washington would have offered Benedict Arnold if he had been captured  6 feet of rope and 10 feet of air.</p><p><em>Mark Haines</em></p><p><em>Hendersonville</em></p>